Top of the Ticker: CNN’s chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, announced that she will be leaving the network in June.
Amanpour made the announcement at the end of her namesake CNN International show on Monday, saying, “After thinking about this carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless nights, as you can imagine. I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years.”
She said her daily show, which also airs on PBS, will continue until the end of the year. After that, it will transition to a weekly show until her June departure.
The legendary correspondent did not give specific reasons for her departure during her announcement, but she thanked the teams she has worked with throughout her career at the network and the viewers.
CNN’s CEO Mark Thompson, in a memo to staffers about Amanpour’s exit, said they have been discussing her departure for months, adding, “I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”
CNN is also losing anchor Bianna Golodryga, who said she was leaving for “an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
Variety reports Golodryga is in talks with Politico for a global affairs role and CBS News, where she previously worked, for a contributor role. She has been with CNN since Sept. 2019.
Legal briefs: Sticking with CNN, the network has threatened additional legal action if the White House continues to exclude it from traveling aboard Air Force One with the president on the days it has been assigned as the designated TV pool provider.
In a letter to the Justice Department, Ted Boutrous, outside counsel for the network, said, “These efforts to retaliate and discriminate against CNN based on the content of its news coverage are mistaken, counterproductive, and unlawful.”
